University pledges its heart-warming commitment to saving lives

University pledges its heart-warming commitment to saving lives

The University of Wolverhampton has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust pledging its commitment to providing 30 defibrillators in strategic locations at its campuses in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Telford and Burton – as well as partner Academy schools in the region.

The Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are sophisticated, computerised devices, suitable for use by anyone, as well as healthcare professionals, which deliver electric shocks to victims of cardiac arrest. It is estimated that approximately 30,000 people each year have cardiac arrests outside of hospital, with almost 4,000 of those taking place in the West Midlands.

Professor Geoff Layer, Vice Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “As an institution with thousands of staff and students on site, as well as our campuses being located right in the heart of our towns and communities, it’s really important that we officially show support and commitment to the West Midlands Ambulance Service – helping them to provide a rapid response in the event that someone suffers a cardiac arrest whilst on our premises.

“These machines are extremely easy to use, meaning anyone can provide emergency care to someone in cardiac arrest quickly and effectively prior to the arrival of an ambulance, bearing in mind that eighty-five percent of those people who suffer a cardiac arrest have the ability for their heart to be shocked back to a normal rhythm by defibrillation.”

Dr Anthony Marsh, Chief Executive Officer of West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: “As a Trust, we’ve helped to install thousands of defibrillators and trained 60,000 people in lifesaving CPR skills across the Region. Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked incredibly hard to place hundreds of defibrillators across the Black Country in locations such as sports facilities, supermarkets, tourist attractions and schools to help someone in cardiac arrest.

“It’s a privilege to welcome the University of Wolverhampton and its Academy Schools on board our project to help save even more lives in the Black Country. With thousands of students and members of staff on campus each day it seems a logical place to have defibrillators and whilst we hope they are never used, its peace of mind for the university that the devices are there to help in an emergency.”

The University has already installed 6 defibrillators in its Wolverhampton City Centre Campus locations, 3 at its Walsall Campus, 2 at its Telford Innovation Centre, 2 at the Wolverhampton University Science Park and 1at its Burton Hospital Campus as well as 16 at partner Academy Schools.

The official Memorandum of Understanding defines the responsibilities of the two parties in the provision of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and basic life support (BLS) to a person in a cardiac arrest until the arrival of the statutory ambulance response.

ENDS

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